Apparatus for locating occlusal planes



' June 22,1926. 1,53%2

P. A. GOULD APPARATUS FOR LOCATING OCCLUSAL PLANES I Filed July 23, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 22 1926. 1,589,802

' P. A. eou D APPARATUS FOR LOCATING OCCLUSAL PLANES Filed July 2 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Pahnued June 22,1926.

PERGIVAL A. GOULD, F GIBSONBURG, OHIO.

APPARATUS FOR LOCATIHG OCCLUSAL PLANES.

Application filed July 23 This invention relates to dental apparatus but is more particularly concerned with a measuring apparatus for properly and accurately determining the occlusal plane of b individual patients in prosthetic articulation.

In my copending application, Serial No. 38,626, filed June 22nd, 1925, I have shown and described an articulator for articulating 10 artificial dentures. This apparatus includes a vertically disposed pin which is termed the incisal guide pin and this pin is movable relatively to and is guided by a plate which angularly positioned, the parts of the articulator being so connected and arranged that a movement is obtained corresponding to the movement of the human mandible. Vertically adjustable on the incisal guide pin is a pointed block which is set at a point coincident with the occlusal plane of the patient and thereafter the plaster models are built up on the articulating members in accordance with the adjusted position of the pointed block.

Considerable difliculty has heretofore been experienced in accurately positioning the above mentioned pointed block for individual patients and so far as I am aware no efiicient measuring apparatus has been produced for conveniently determining the occlusal plane in every instance so that the plaster models may be properly constructed and that resultanteiiicient articulation may be performed.

Objects of this invention are to overcome the above difliculty; and to provide a simple and etlicient measuring apparatus for readily and Conveniently determining the occlusal plane in every instance; and to provide improved means for accurately positioning the upper and lower plates relatively to each oth r for articulation purposes.

An illustrated embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the apparatus attached to a patient; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig 1: Fig. 3' anenlarged detail view of an end portion of the u shaped attached member; and Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the adjusting block; Fig. '5 is an enlarged plan view of the bite member and rigid supelemgnt assessed state:

Serial No. 45,480.

tion of the arrangement shown in Fig. 5 in addition to the upper plate; and Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 in addition to the lower plate and showing the manner of assembly.

The illustrated embodiment oi the invention comprises a substantially U-shaped supporting member which may consist of a metallic strip and this member is shaped to tit around the face of a patient below the aize of the nose. Adjustably attached to the end portions of the U-shaped member 1 are extensible members 2 having longitudinal slots 3 to receive the end portions of the support- 1, a set screw 4 on the extension 2 being adapted to engage the member 1 for holding the latter in adjusted position. The extension 2 is substantially L-shaped and formed on the end of the extension is a knob 5, which is adapted to extend into the auditory meatus of the ear. By adjusting the extension 2 on the U-shaped support 1, the support may be adjusted to fit the faces of individual patients so in every instance this member may be properly positioned relative to the alae of the nose and the auditory nieatus.

Slidable on the U-shaped member 1 is a block 5 having a transverse slot 6 to receive the support 1, a set screw 7 being provided for locking the block 5 in its adjusted position. Formed in the block 5 in the region above the slot 6 is a transversely extending hole to receive a pin 8, the ends of whichproject from opposite sides of the block. Formed on opposite ends of the pin 8 are socket members 9 to receive the end portions of a yoke 10, set screws 11 in the socket members 9 being adjustable to engage the arms of the yoke for holding the latter against movement. The yoke 10 terminates in a ball or knob 12 which is supported by a socket member 13 fixed to a head band 14- The head band 14 may be of any suitable type which may be readily adjusted to the head of the patient and it will be seen from this arrangement that the head band 14 cooperates in holding the U- haped support 1 in proper position and by means of the several adjustments above described the apparatus may be readily adjusted to the heads 1 of the patients.

A hole 15 isformed in the lower portion 9 .t e l k .e teesieath isht sea s to the Usl1aped support 1. The holc 1 5 is adapted to receive a pin 16 and in positioningthe pin 16 the latter should be inserted into the hole 15 until it engages or contacts with U shaped support 1. lhereatter a set screw 17 may be tightened to hold the pin in place, The pin 16 may be the incisal guide pin en'iployed in the articulator shown and described in my copending applicat on and it will be seen that the rclatire position of the guide pin 1b and U-shaped support 1 corresponds to the relative position of the upper model support and the me :al guide pin in the articulator commercially known as the G-ysi simplex articulator" which s well known to the dental profession and is illustrated in the aforesaid application.

Slidable on the pin l6 is a sleeve-lilie bloelr 18 having a lateral lup; 18 provided with a set screw 18'. bite member 19 1s adapted to project into the moutlr oil the patient and the outer end thereof is inserted thru the opening in the lug 18 the bite member 19 extending at approximately right angles to the pin 16. A set screw :20 is proyided for securing the bloclr 18 and the bite member in the desired vertical position in the pin 16.

As indicated in Figures 5 to T the bite member 19 comprises a stem 21 and a fiat yoke shaped support 22. The supper 22 is provided with rows of apertures 93 and surfacing; elements 2 1 may be mounted on the upper surface of the support 22, the holes 28 being; adapted to receive screws 25 :tor detachably connecting the surthcingz; element 2st to the support 22. It will be seen that the holes or apertures 23 are spaced from each other so that different sized sur lacing elements is may be mounted on the support 22, the size used dependingupon the size of the patrents plate. Connected to the upper surface of the surfacing element 2!; are sharp pointed screws 2?, in this instance there being three in number and the points projecting outwardly therefrom.

In practice the upper plate n. of a, set is first placed in the patients mouth and there after the bite member 19 havi mg the sur'l'acing element 24 mounted thereon is plac d in the mouth and moved against the lower ortion of the upper plate so as to the surfacing element 2% firmly in the softwas: of upper plate- The bite member 19. surfacing element 2e, and upper plate A in assembled form are removed from the mouth and the bite member. detached from the surface. element 2 1 by removing the screws2'5. Y r

Thereatter wire surfacing element Bat 13 reenforoed in theipl ate' A by means ot was or other similar substance so that it is firmly embedded in] the substance of: the plate. The u ge jpna; A is replaced in the patients mouth and thereafter the "lower plate B of the set is placed in the mouth and the patient is required to chew on the lower plate, moving one plate on the other so as to allow tree and natural moven'ients of the mandilmlar muscles. Atter the patient has done this the bite member 19 is again attached to the surfacing element by means 01 screws having sharp pointed heads 27, and this assembly is replaced in the mouth. The patient is then required to bite on central occlusion and this causes the sharp pointed heads to extend into the soft wax oi the lower plate B so that the upper plate A and lower plate B are at tached to the bite member 19.

.jliil'ettl itl" the stem 21 of the bite member 11) is attached to the block 18 which is then pro erly positioned on the pin 16 so that the ion of central occlusion on the pin 16 l The set screws 18" and 20 are rte ed to screw the block 18 against movement on the pin 16. The no t oper tion is to remove the myparatus or disengage the apparatus from the pin 16 so that the pin 16 bite member 1b and upper and lower plates A and B respectively, may be removed from the patients mouth. It will now be seen that by attaching the pin 16 to the articulator the plates A and B are accurately positioned and the plaster models may be built up in proper relation.

lVhile l have shown and described a con struction which admirably fulfills the objects of my invention, it is to be understood that the above is given merely by way of illustration and not of limitation, and numerous changes in details of construction. arrangement and operation may be effected without departing from the spiritof the invention,especially as deti'ned in the appended claims.

ifl hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a measuring apparatus, a substantially U-shaped member adapted to tit around a patients face below the nose, e2;- tensiblc end portions in said member provided with elements cngageable with the ears, means adapted to be attached to the up per part or the head for supporting said member, a horizontally ustable element on the forward portion of said member and a depending guide pin detach-ably secured to said horizontally adjustable element.

is a measuring apparatus, a substantially U-shaped member adapted to tit around a patients face below the nose, extensible end portions on said member l'1avi1, elements en ageable with the ears adjusts bleimei'an's acapted, to be attached to the up per part of the head and engaging said U- shap'ed member, a horizontally adjustable elie entonlsaid U-shape'dmember a depend:

detaehably engaged" by said last member, Sfild pin constituting the.

' 'lsal Int) ill)

guide pin of an articulator, and a bite member slidable on said pin and adapted to project into the patients mouth.

In a measuring apparatus, an adjustable head band, a bail-like member adapted to fit over a persons face directl below the nose, a yoke associated with said band and member, means on the ends of said memher to engage the ears, a slide on said memher, a pin depending "from said slide and detachably connected thereto, and a bite member slidable on said pin.

at. In a measuring apparatus, an adjustable head band, a U-shaped member adapted to fit around a patients face below the alae of the nose, extensions on said member having portions engapgeable with the. auditory meatus, means for supporting the outer end portion of said member, and a guide pin de tachably secured to said slide and depending therefrom, said pin having a bite plate adjustable thereon.

5. In a. device of the class desuribeth'a clamping member adapted to be attached to a patient and extend from a point directly beneath the nose to the ear, horizontally adjustable supportingelement on said clamping member, and a vertically depending pin detachably connected to said supporting element, said pin being adapted to support a bite member.

6. The method substantially as hereinbefore described, which consists in inserting the upper plate into the patients mouth, embedding a rigid surfacing element in said plate while the plate is in the mouth, placing the lower plate in the mouth, and requiring the patient to chew on the lower plate thereby to secure tree and natural muscular movements in the region of the lower plate.

7. The method substantially as hereinbefore described, which consists in placing the upper plate in the patients mouth, embedding a rigid surfacing element in said plate, placing the lower plate in the mouth, requiring the patient to bite on the lower plate, attaching the surfacing; element to a bite member by screws haying pointed heads, and requiring the patient to bite on central occlusion thereby to connect the upper and lower plates in assembled relation. on said bite member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name. to this specification.

PERCIVAL A. GOULD. 

